Method and apparatus for automatically developing small film

ABSTRACT

Exceptionally thin and small size film such as dental X-ray and other similar film is held by an annular film holder and rollingly passed automatically through a plurality of bath chambers for development whereby the film is developed free of any adverse effect and with a high degree of efficiency.

United States Patent Sawada et a1.

1 May 6,1975

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DEVELOPING SMALL FILM Inventors: Ryosaku Sawada, Nishinomiya;

Tsutomu Sato, Nadaku, both of Japan [73] Assignee:

Kabushiki Kaisha Hanshin Gijutsu Kenkyusho, Hyogo, Japan Filed:

June 10, 1972 US. Cl. .1

Int. Cl.

June 6, 1973 Appl. No.: 367,438

Foreign Application Priority Data Japan 47-57983 G03d 3/10 Field 01' Search 95/89 R, 90.5, 93, 94 R,

2,766,670 10/1956 Fritts 95/100 2,900,514 8/1959 Boucher l v 354/331 X 3,196,772 7/1965 Sickles 95/89 D 3,277,809 10/1966 Guzzardi et a1 95/89 R X 3,443,503 5/1969 Holm et a1 354/322 X 3,461,842 8/1969 Conrad et a1 118/500 3,512,467 5/1970 Schafler 95/13 3,550,520 12/1970 Lucas 95/39 R 3,623,416 11/1971 Anderberg 95/89 R 3,672,289 6/1972 K6150 95/100 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATIONS 1,139,758 1/1969 United Kingdom 95/94 R Primary Examiner-Richard L. Moses Assistant Examiner-Alan Mathews Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Mason, Fenwick & Lawrence [57] ABSTRACT Exceptionally thin and small size film such as dental X-ray and other similar film is held by an annular film holder and rollingly passed automatically through a plurality of bath chambers for development whereby the film is developed free of any adverse effect and with a high degree of efficiency.

30 Claims, 25 Drawing Figures PATENTEU HAY ems 3,882 527 sum 1 BF 8 PATENTEDHAY 15 3,882,527

SHEEI 20? 8 PATENIED HAY sums 3.882.527

Sn'LLl ff L o PATENTEU HAY 61975 3.88252? sum u 0? a PMENTEUHAY 81975 3,882,527

SHEET 5 BF 8 WENTEU am 61975 SHEET 7 BF 8 PATENTED rm 6 m5 SHEET 8 [IF 8 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DEVELOPING SMALL FILM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for developing particularly very thin, small size films automatically.

Conventionally, small films for dentistry use and for other uses are developed by passing them through several kinds of solutions such as developer, stop bath, and fixer. Such film is commonly immersed in the solutions usually either by a known manual operation or a known automatic developing method used to improve the operation efficiency, in which method the film alone is usually directly advanced by means of multi-stage rolls. According to this known automatic method, however, the multi-stage rolls tend to adversely affect the film surface, or slippage or excess pressure involved in film transport by the rolls produces objectionable effects on the film, so that the method is not suitable to assure the protection of the film which is extremely thin and small.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention relates to an improved developing method suitable for small, thin films.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved process for developing a small size film by means of an annular holder which is adapted to hold the film firmly, thereby eliminating the necessity to manually grip the film directly, and which process includes traversing the annular holder generally rotatively along its outer periphery through a series of adjacently disposed filmdeveloping bath chambers in a developing case.

Another object of this invention is to provide novelly improved apparatus in which when the film is held and passed thru the solutions, so that the gripping power will not be delivered directly to the film but is transmitted to the film holder so that the film can be developed free of an excess pressure, with its surface kept out of contact with other articles.

Still another object of this invention is to provide the improved film holder in the shape of a non-directional ring so that the film can be conveniently transferred from one bath chamber to another, and especially in a rolling fashion.

These and other objects of this invention will be fulfilled by the embodiments of this invention to be de scribed below with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. IA and 1B are perspective views showing two practical embodiments of the ring shape film holder of this invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are vertical cross-sectional views taken along the lines I1 and the lines II-II in FIGS. 1A and 18 respectively;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are further vertical cross-sectional views showing modifications of the holder in FIG. IA;

FIGS. 5A and SB are perspective views showing how the small size film is fitted into the respective ringshaped holders of FIGS. 1A and 13 using a guide;

FIGS. 6A and 6B, and FIGS. 7A and 7B are further views in vertical cross-section respectively showing the ring-shaped film holder and the guide before the film is inserted into the holder, and subsequently while it is being inserted into the holder, and wherein the respective FIGS. 68 and 78 represent vertical cross-sections taken along the diagonal line of the film;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are plan views showing the small size film after it has been inserted into the respective holders of FIGS. IA and 13;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view with parts broken away to better show a developing apparatus having plu ral bath chambers;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view in cross-section taken substantially along the line 10-10 in FIG. 9;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are views in vertical cross-section taken along the lines 11-11 and I212 respectively in FIG. 9, and with certain generally duplicative center parts omitted for compactness of the drawings;

FIGS. 13 (1) to (4) are front views illustrated on a reduced scale showing stage-by-stage positions of windows of a plurality of bath chambers containing the same solution;

FIG. 14 is a view taken in vertical cross-section showing a modification of the foregoing apparatus which includes modified windows and arms;

FIGS. 15 and 16 are further vertical cross-sectional views showing modified embodiment bath chambers in which the film holders are driven by means of rotary discs;

FIG. 17 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line l717 in FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing a further embodiment wherein the apparatus includes helical chambers through which the film is passed; and

FIG. 19 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line I9I9 of FIG. 18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of this invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. IA, an annular film holder 1 has a film-receiving portion 2 which is in the form of a circumferential groove in the illustrated case. The filmreceiving portion 2 is defined by an upper annular portion 3 and a lower annular portion 4. Preferably, the upper portion 3 has a greater inside diameter than the lower portion 4 to facilitate the insertion and removal ofa small film F (see FIG. 2A). Indicated at 5 are radial cutouts to permit the liquid to flow over the film effectively.

FIGS. 18 and 2B show another holder embodiment 1a formed with four spaced pawl-like receiving portions 2', each of which comprises two circumferentially spaced lower pawls and spaced apart a distance corresponding to the width of an upper pawl positioned between and above the said lower pawls. The re ceiving portions 2' hold the corners of the film F.

The film holder I of FIG. IA may be modified as shown in FIG. 3 in which it is seen that the holder lb has a stepped portion 6 on one side 31) for smoothly receiving the film F temporarily so as to subsequently facilitate the insertion of the film F. Either or both of the upper and lower portions 3b and 4b may be provided with radial cutouts or grooves (not shown) corresponding to grooves 5 of FIG. 1A. FIG. 4 shows another modified film holder lc comprising upper and lower segments 3c and 4c which are fitted together by the complemental engagement of a projection 7 with a recess 8.

The film as for dental use is fitted into the receiving portions 2 or portions 2' of the holder 1 utilizing the elasticity of the film, whereupon the film will be held positively by the holder 1 at its four corners.

To keep the film F out of contact with the hand of the operator when it is fitted into the holder 1, it is preferable to use temporary film-supporting and guide means 20 and 20' as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B respectively. Each of the said guides comprises a suitable number of oppositely paired combination film-centering and guide plates or fingers 21, which may include either a single pair disposed at opposite sides or two pair (FIG. 58) so as to be along four sides thereof. They further each include a full or partial support surface 22 or 22' (FIGS. 5 and 6). The film F is preferably placed on the support surface 22 and the film holder 1 is pushed down with its inner periphery guided along the guide plates 21, and against the film F, whereby the four corners of the film F projecting from the support 22 will be resiliently fitted into the receiving portion or portions 2. Thus the film can be inserted into the film holderl free of contact with the hand, as per FIGS. 5A, SE to FIGS. 8A and 8B. Indicated at 23 in each of FIGS. SA, 6A and 7A are bearing plates to protect the four corners of the film F. The bearing plates 23 are movable up and down being normally resiliently biased upwardly under the action of a plurality of suitably disposed springs 24.

The film holders, used for retaining the film F in the receiving portion or portions 2 are arranged to be automatically passed through a plurality of bath chambers and are thereby immersed in the proper developing and/or fixing solutions for the required development.

FIGS. 9 to 13 show one form of a developing appara tus comprising a developing case 100 in the form of a dark box which keeps the film light-tight while it is being processed and passed through the interior. The interior of the case 100 is divided into a plurality of preferably parallel bath chambers 30 by a plurality of parallel partition walls 31. The intermediate walls 31 are formed with windows 32 and 32' of a size which are larger than the film holder 1. Through the various windows 32 and 32 the film holder 1 is sequentially transferred from one chamber 30 to another adjacent chamber 30 by a preferably 360 rotatable arm 33 provided in each chamber and movable by suitable gears or the like. Preferably each three adjacent chambers, for in stance, contain the same solution so that, even when the arms 33 are driven relatively fast, the film is assured of being immersed in the solution to the required extent. FIG. 13 shows the positions of the windows formed in a series of the partition walls 31. The window 32' for transferring the film holder 1 to an adjacent chamber 30' containing a different solution is positioned at a higher level than the other windows 32, i.e., higher than the liquid level S (FIG. 9) so as to avoid mixture of different solutions. The film holder 1 is introduced initially by way of an inlet 34 provided in an endmost wall 31, and passed through the various bath chambers 30 in succession and then discharged from an outlet 35 (FIGS. and 12). While being moved forwardly therethrough in this manner, the film F is sequentially immersed in the proper solutions for development. As illustrated in the form of FIGS. 9 and 10, the film holder travels an initial arcuate path of approximately l80-270in one direction in the initial chamber, and due to the gearing arrangement and special disposition of the windows, the film holder moves so as to pass through the respective succeedingly oppositely offset windows and successively travels approximately 180 in the opposite direction for each succeeding chamber containing a common solution. As discernable from the drawings, the arms 33 are disposed to move in opposite 360 paths for each succeeding chamber, thereby effecting the desired opposite travel of the film holder through the various chambers.

The apparatus of the modified embodiment shown in FIG. 14 comprises bath chambers 40 defined by similar partition walls 41 each formed with similar windows 42 and 42' which are positioned at a level higher than the liquid level S. The windows 42 and 42 are out of register with each other. The film holder 1 is passed through the windows 42 and 42' by arms 43 and 43' which are driven intermittently, whereby the film holder 1 is sequentially transferred from one chamber to another and is developed in the same manner as above.

FIGS. 15 to 17 depict another embodiment of the developing apparatus. As seen in FIG. 15, the film holder 1 placed into a developing case through an inlet 54 is rotatively traversed through a partitioned bath chamber 50 by means of a first pair of co-planar rotary discs 53, 53, with the holder cooperatively moving along the curved peripheral wall 57 of the bath chamber 50. The rotary discs 53, 53 are each provided with circumferentially spaced apart pins 56 serving as drive members for engagably driving the film holder 1 in rolling fashion. Each film holder 1 is then forcibly transferred, through a window 52 in a partition wall 51 as by means of a slanting guide face 58 (FIG. 17). which acts somewhat in cam-like fashion to move it to an adjacent chamber 50' as shown in FIG. 16 and 17. In this adjacent cham ber 50, just as in the first chamber, the film-holder is also advanced by means of a second pair of discs 53', 53. These discs also are provided with pins 56' to help move the film holders along a similarly curved peripheral wall 57' to an outlet 55 to complete the development of the film F. Suitable sets of interengagable drive gears for each chamber are indicated at 59 and 59', respectively. Means similar to slanting surface 58 (in FIG. 17) may be devised to assure lateral transferring movement of the annular film holders from one chamber to the next in other of these embodiments.

FIGS. 18 and 19 show still another embodiment of the apparatus in the form of a developing case 100 comprising a plurality of inclined partition walls 61 and arranged so as to render the chambers communicatively continuous in helical manner. A sleeve type roller 63 serving as a drive member for driving the film holder 1 is mounted coaxially with and upon a preferably horizontal rotary shaft 62. The roller 63 drives the film holder rollingly in contact therewith along a peripheral wall 66 and thereby sequentially immerses the film F into and then out from the respective solutions for development. The respective solutions are maintained at such liquid level that the different solutions will not mix with each other. The respective inlet and outlet are designated at 64 and 65 in FIG. 18.

In the drawings to simplify showing the foregoing various embodiments, the respective inlets and outlets for the solutions, the liquid temperature controlling means. and heater or the like are omitted. The plurality of the bath chambers may comprise at least one chamber containing a developer and one to several chambers containing stop bath, fixer, rinse (washing water), etc., individually.

According to this invention described, the annular type holder for carrying a small piece of film is passed through a plurality of bath chambers to immerse the film in the solutions automatically for development. During the passage through the bath chambers, therefore, it is not the film itself but the holder that is subjected to the power for transport, so that the film itself is free of excess pressure and the film surface is kept out of contact with other articles during the developing process. Inasmuch as this improved system enables the film to be handled by grasping and/or engaging the holder without the necessity to manually grip the film directly, the film can be developed automatically without any adverse effect thereon.

Moreover, the non-directional or generally annular shaped holder is extremely advantageous permitting it to be readily passed through the bath chambers in rolling fashion and assures uniform immersion of the film in the solutions for reliable and efficient development of small films. With these various constructional and operational advantages, the present invention fulfils all of the contemplated objects.

While several specific embodiments have been depicted and described in various specific detail, other variations and modifications may be suggested hereby to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims for a definition and scope of the claimed invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A method for automatically developing particularly small size film, such as dental X-ray film and the like, said method comprising the steps of:

a. attaching a single piece of film in a planar condition within a single generally annular, rigid, framelike film holder having an outer periphery and major and minor planes; said attaching being generally in the medial plane of thickness of said rigid film holder which medial plane is coplanar with and essentially constitutes the major plane of said film holder; and

b. moving said annular film holder by rotatively enaging it along at least part of its outer periphery and passing is successively through a plurality of vertical parallel bath chambers in succession by passing said film holder in alternatingly opposite directions for each successive bath chamber for film development utilizing the successive rotative travel imparted to said film holder while maintaining said film holder with its major plane vertically disposed and parallel with partition walls forming said bath chambers;

. said moving and passing including lifting said film holder up adjacent to open transfer window means in said partitions, moving said holder through or across said open transfer window means; and

d. allowing said film holder to drop by gravity into the adjacent bath chamber whereby it is again moved as per paragraphs (b) and (c) through the adjacent chambers,

2. Apparatus for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination an annular rigid, frame-like holder for holding a piece of film fitted therein; said holder having opposed coplanar portions by which an imaginary plane passing essentially through said opposed coplanar portions constitutes a major plane of said holder; said holder having means to hold said film in a planar condition by at least portions of two opposed sides thereof; an enclosed film-developing case having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and wall means forming therein a plurality of generally vertically disposed adjacent bath chambers each having a major plane through which bath chambers said film holder is rotatively passed with the major plane of said film holder co-extensive with a corresponding major plane of each bath chamber; and means for automatically rotatively moving said annular film holder progressively through the bath chambers of said casing with means for passing said film holder from chamber to chamber essentially in a vertical condition wherein said annular film holder has a film-receivingand-retaining portion in the form of circumferentially disposed internal groove means for holding the film generally in a medial plane thereof, and which medial plane is generally coplanar to the major plane of said film holder and wherein said inner circumferentially disposed groove means includes four generally rectangular-spaced film-receiving portions along an inner periphery of said holder for holding the film, and each of the film-receiving portions having two film-supporting pawls spaced apart from each other toward one side thereof, and another one film-retaining pawl complementally positioned between and oppositely adjacent said two spaced pawls and toward the opposite side of said medial plane.

3. Apparatus for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination an annular frame-like holder for holding a piece of film fitted in planar condition therein; an enclosed filmdeveloping case having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and a plurality of adjacent bath chambers through which said film holder is rotatively passed, and means for automatically rotatively moving said annular film holder therethrough, said developing case including a vertical partition wall between the adjacent bath cham bers, each of said partition walls being formed with an open window for transferring said annular film holder to the next bath chamber, and said means for automatically moving said film holder through said case including a rotative sweep arm in each bath chamber which rotates in a generally circular path in each of said bath chambers and in operative engagement with said film holder to move it into an alignment position with said window therein.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said partition walls are generally uniformly spaced apart in succeeding relation to one another, and wherein said open partition windows of succeeding partitions are succeedingly oppositely offset, and wherein each sweep arm rotates in alternatingly opposite directions in each adjacent chamber so as to move said film holder in alternating directions in each successive chamber to an alignment position with the respective succeedingly oppositely offset windows for each successive partition wall.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein each sweep arm has a portion with a slanting surface so as to effect lateral shifting movement of said film-holder through said partition open window into the adjacent bath chamber responsive to enagagement of said slanting surface by said annular film-holder.

6. A method for automatically developing particularly small size film, such as dental X-ray film and the like, said method comprising the steps of:

a. attaching a single piece of film in a planar condition within a single generally annular, rigid, framelike film holder having an outer periphery and major and minor planes; said attaching being generally in the medial plane of thickness of said rigid film holder which medial plane is coplanar with and essentially constitutes the major plane of said film holder; and

b. moving said annular film holder by rotatively engaging it along at least part of its outer periphery and passing it successively through a plurality of vertical parallel bath chambers in succession by movement including rotatively traversing said film holder through an arcuate travel path between ap proximately l80-270 in each succeeding bath chamber for film development utilizing the succes sive rotative travel imparted to said film holder while maintaining said film holder with its major plane vertically disposed and parallel with partition walls forming said bath chambers;

c. said moving and passing including lifting said film holder up adjacent to open transfer window means in said partitions, moving said holder through or across said open transfer window means; and

. allowing said film holder to drop by gravity into the adjacent bath chamber whereby it is again moved as per paragraphs (b) and (c) through the adjacent chambers.

7. The method as defined in claim 6, wherein said film holder is moved in alternatingly opposite directions for each successive chamber.

8. A method for automatically developing particularly small size film, such as dental X-ray film and the like, said method comprising the steps of:

a. attaching a single piece of film in a planar condition within a single generally annular, rigid, frame- ]ike film holder having an outer periphery and major and minor planes; said attaching being generally in the medial plane of thickness of said rigid film holder which medial plane is coplanar with and essentially constitutes the major plane of said film holder; and

b. moving said annular film holder by rotatively engaging it along at least part of its outer periphery and passing it successively through a plurality of vertical parallel bath chambers in succession for film development utilizing the successive rotative travel imparted to said film holder while maintaining said film holder with its major plane vertically disposed, and parallel with partition walls forming said bath chambers wherein said film holder is spirally driven through 360 spirally communicating bath chambers, and different developing and processing liquid solutions are maintained in some of the respective chambers so as not to become mixed with one another during the process;

c. said moving and passing including lifting said film holder up adjacent to open transfer window means in said partitions, moving said holder through or across said open transfer window means; and allowing said film holder to drop by gravity into the adjacent bath chamber whereby it is again moved as per paragraphs (b) and through the adjacent chambers.

9. Apparatus for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination an annular rigid, frame-like holder for holding a piece of film fitted therein; said holder having opposed coplanar portions by which an imaginary plane passing essentially through said opposed coplanar portions constitutes a major plane of said holder; said holder having means to hold said film in a planar condition by at least portions of two opposed sides thereof; an enclosed film-developing case having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and wall means forming therein a plurality of generally vertically disposed adjacent bath chambers each having a major plane through which bath chambers said film holder is rotatively passed with the major plane of said film holder coextensive with a corresponding major plane of each bath chamber, means for automatically rotatively moving said annular film holder progressively through the bath chambers of said casing with means for passing said film holder from chamber to chamber essentially in a vertical condition and wherein said developing case wall means includes a vertical partition wall between the adjacent bath chambers, each of said partition walls being formed with an open window through which said annular film holder is transferred to the next bath chamber, and wherein said means for automatically moving said film holder through said case includes a rotative sweep arm in each of said bath chambers whereby said arm is movable for bringing said film holder to an alignment position with said window therein.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said open partition windows each include an arcuate portion to complementally accommodate and pass said annular shaped film holder.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said means for automatically moving said film holder through said case includes power-driven shaft-and-gear means.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said power-driven shaft-and-gear means include a pair of parallel shafts disposed transversely to said bath chambers, and coacting interengageable drive members mounted on said respective shafts, and wherein one of said rotative sweep arms is mounted on each of said shafts so as to have only one sweep arm operatively disposed within a given bath chamber.

13. Apparatus for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination an annular rigid, frame-like holder for holding a piece of film fitted therein; said holder having opposed coplanar portions by which an imaginary plane passing essentially through said opposed co-planar portions comstitutes a major plane of said holder; said holder having means to hold said film in a planar condition by at least portions of two opposed sides thereof; an enclosed film-developing case having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and wall means forming therein a plurality of generally vertically disposed adjacent bath chambers each having a major plane through bath chambers said film holder is rotatively passed with the major plane of said film holder coextensive with a corresponding major plane of each bath chamber, means for automatically rotatively moving said annular film holder progressively through the bath chambers of said casing with means for passing said film holder from chamber to chamber essentially in a vertical condition and wherein said developing case has at least one intermediate partition wall to form the adjacent bath chambers, said partition wall having an open window through which said annular film holder is transferred to the next bath chamber, each of said bath chambers having in its interior a curved peripheral wall for rolling contact by said annular film holder therewith; and said means for automatically rotatively moving said annular film holder therethrough includes at least one pair of drive members for rollingly bringing said film holder to an alignment position with said window.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said at least one pair of drive members include a pair of coplanarly disposed reel-like members rotatably mounted on transverse shafts in each of said bath chambers, said reel-like members having flange means including one planar flange member parallel to and spaced apart from said chamber-dividing partition wall so that said annu lar film holder is partially and freely disposed between said partition and said flange member, and pin-like elements transversely disposed on said flange of said rotatable reel-like members so as to engage and rotatably drive said annular film-holder along said interior curved peripheral wall of said bath chamber to a next chamber transferpermitting window.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said means for automatically moving said annular film holder therethrough includes an inclined surface on at least one of said reel-like members and disposed so as to effect lateral shifting movement of said film-holder through said partition open window into the adjacent bath chamber responsive to enagement of said inclined surface by said annular film-holder.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein a guide with slanting face thereon is immovably provided adjacent said partition open window so as to effect lateral shifting movement of said film holder through said partition open window into the adjacent bath chamber responsive to engagement of said slanting surface by said annular film holder.

17. Apparatus for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination an annular rigid, frame-like holder for holding apiece of film fitted therein; said holder having opposed coplanar portions by which an imaginary plane passing essentially through said opposed coplanar portions constitutes a major plane of said holder; said holder having means to hold said film in a planar condition by at least portions of two opposed sides thereof; an enclosed film-developing case having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and wall means forming therein a plurality of generally vertically disposed adjacent bath chambers each having a major plane through which bath chambers said film holder is rotatively passed with the major plane of said film holder coextensive with a corresponding major plane of each bath chamber, means for automatically rotatively moving said annular film holder progressively through the bath chambers of said casing with means for passing said film holder from chamber to chamber essentially in a vertical condition and wherein the adjacent bath chambers of the developing case are defined by helically continuous partition wall means between said inlet and outlet casing ends; said bath chambers being communicatively spirally connected and having in their interior a concavely curved peripheral wall for contact by a peripheral portion of said annular film holder, and a drive member transverse to said spiral chambers which drive member rollingly transfers said film holder from one chamber to another along their respective peripheral walls in cooperation with said casing.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said drive member is disposed axially through said bath chambers and includes a cylindrical surface common to all chambers, said cylindrical surface disposed relative to said concavely curved peripheral walls of said bath chambers so that said annular film holder has its outer periphery drivingly engageable with both the said cylindrical surface of said drive member and with said curved peripheral wall of said chambers throughout its travel through said developing case.

19. Apparatus for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination:

a rigid, annular frame-like holder with means for holding a piece of film in planar condition therein, said frame-like holder having opposed coplanar portions by which an imaginary plane passing through said opposed coplanar portions constitutes a major plane of said film holder; said film being held generally in a medial plane thereof which is coplanar to the major plane thereof; an enclosed film-developing case having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and vertically disposed plural partition walls interposed in spaced apart parallel rela tion between said opposite ends of said casing and defining therewith a plurality of relatively narrow adjacent bath chambers each having a major plane in an upright position, and through which chambers said film holder is rotatively passed; said paral lel partition walls being spaced apart a distance slightly greater than an overall thickness of said annular film holder and constituting means for keeping the major plane of said film holder in generally parallel relation with said partition walls while being passed within each of said bath chambers, means operatively engageable with said film holder to rotatively move it progressively and automatically through said casing chambers, said latter means including a member of which at least part thereof follows a generally circular path and wherein each of said partition walls is formed with an open window of a size greater than the film holder and through which said film holder is transferred to the next bath chamber and succeeding partition walls have their respective open windows alternatingly oppositely offset from one another.

20. Apparatus for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination:

a rigid, annular frame-like holder with means for holding a piece of film in planar condition therein, said frame-like holder having opposed coplanar portions by which an imaginary plane passing through said opposed coplanar portions constitutes a major plane of said film holder; said film being held generally in a medial plane thereof which is coplanar to the major plane thereof; an enclosed film-developing case having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and vertically disposed plural partition walls interposed in spaced apart parallel relation between said opposite ends of said casing and defining therewith a plurality of relatively narrow adjacent bath chambers each having a major plane in an upright position, and through which chambers said film holder is rotatively passed; said parallel partition walls being spaced apart a distance slightly greater than an overall thickness of said annular film holder and constituting means for keeping the major plane of said film holder in generally parallel relation with said partition walls while being passed within each of said bath chambers, means operatively engageable with said film holder to rotatively move it progressively and automatia major plane of said film holder; said film being held generally in a medial plane thereof which is coplanar to the major plane thereof; an enclosed film-developing case having an inlet and outlet at cally through said casing chambers, said latter opposite ends and vertically disposed plural partimeans including a member of which at least part tion walls interposed in spaced apart parallel relathereof follows a generally circular path and tion between said opposite ends of said csaing and wherein each of said partition walls is formed with defining therewith a plurality of relatively narrow an open window of a size greater than the film adjacent bath chambers each having a major plane holder and through which said film holder is transto in an upright position, and through which chamferred to the next bath chamber and said casing bers said film holder is rotatively passed; said paraland windowed partitions are relatively disposed so lel partition walls being spaced apart a distance that said film holder simply drops under an influslightly greater than an overall thickness of said anence of gravity without necessarily always beinng nular film holder and constituting means for keepin contact with said means for moving said film 15 ing the major plane of said film holder in generally holder through said casing; and further means engageable with and for moving said film holder essentially only upwardly from a bottom of each of said bath chambers.

parallel relation with said partition walls while being passed within each of said bath chambers, means operatively engageable with said film holder to rotatively move it progressively and automati- 21. Apparatus for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination: a rigid, annular frame-like holder with means for cally through said casing chambers, said latter means including a member of which at least part thereof follows a generally circular path and holding a piece of film in planar condition therein, said frame-like holder having opposed coplanar wherein each of said partition walls is formed with an open window of a size greater than the film portions by which an imaginary plane passing holder and through which said film holder is transthrough said opposed coplanar portions constitutes ferred to the next bath chamber and a guide with a major plane of said film holder; said film being slanting face thereon is immovably provided at the held generally in a medial plane thereof which is edge of said open window so as to be engageable coplanar to the major plane thereof; an enclosed by and effect lateral shifting movement of said film film developing case having an inlet and outlet at opposite, ends and vertically disposed plural parti holder through said open window into the adjacent bath chamber.

tion walls interposed in spaced apart parallel relation between said opposite ends of said csaing and defining therewith a plurality of relatively narrow 23. Apparatus for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination: an annular holder for holding a piece of film fitted said frame-like holder having opposed coplanar portions by which an imaginary plane passing through said opposed coplanar portions constitutes adjacent bath chambers each having a major plane therein; an enclosed film-developing case having in an upright position, and through which cham an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and a plurality bers said film holder is rotatively passed; said paralof adjacent bath chambers through which said film lel partition walls being spaced apart a distance holderis rotatively passed, and means for automatslightly greater than an overall thickness of said anically rotatively moving said annular film holder nular film holder and constituting means for keeptherethrough and wherein said developing case ining the major plane of said film holder in generally cludes a partition wall between the adjacent bath parallel relation with said partition walls while chambers, each of said partition walls being formed being passed within each of said bath chambers, with an open window for transferring said annular means operatively engageable with said film holder film holder to the next bath chamber, and wherein to rotatively move it progressively and automatisaid means for automatically moving said film cally through said casing chambers, said latter holder to said case includes a rotative sweep arm means including a member of which at least part in each of said bath chambers whereby said arm is thereof follows a generally circular path and movable for bringing said film holder to an alignwherein each of said partition walls is formed with merit position with said window therein and said an open window of a size greater than the film open partition windows each include an arcuate holder and through which said film holder is transportion to complementally accommodate and pass ferred to the next bath chamber and said means for said annular shaped film holder. automatically moving said film holder through said 24. Apparatus for automatically developing preferacase includes a rotative sweep member in each of bly relatively small size film comprising in combination: said bath chambers; and each of said sweep meman annular holder for holding a piece of film fitted bers formed with a slanting surface portion to eftherein; an enclosed film-developing case having fect lateral shifting movement of said film holder an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and a plurality through said open window into the next adjacent of adjacent bath chambers through which said film bath chamber responsive to engagement of said holder is rotatively passed, and means for automatslanting surface by said annular film holder. ically rotatively moving said annular film holder 22. Apparatus for automatically developing preferatherethrough and wherein the adjacent bath chambly relatively small size film comprising in combination: bers of the developing case are defined by helically a rigid, annular frame-like holder with means for continuous partition wall means between said inelt holding a piece of film in planar condition therein, and outlet casing ends; said bath chambers being communicatively spirally connected and having in their interior a curved peripheral wall for contact with said annular film holder, and a drive member transverse to said spiral chambers which drive member rollingly transfers said film holder from one chamber to another along their respective peripheral walls in cooperation with said casing.

25. Apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein said drive member is disposed axially through said bath chambers and includes a cylindrical surface common to all chambers, said cylindrical surface disposed relative to said curved peripheral walls of said bath chambers so that said annular film holder has its outer periphery drivingly engageable with both the said cylindrical surface of aid drive member and with said curved peripheral wall of said chambers throughout its travel through said developing case,

26. Apparatus for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination:

an annular holder for holding a piece of film fitted therein; an enclosed film-developing case having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and a plurality of adjacent bath chambers through which said film holder is rotatively passed, and means for automat ically rotatively moving said annular film holder therethrough and wherein said developing case includes a partition wall between the adjacent bath chambers, each of said partition walls being formed with an open window for transferring said annular film holder to the next bath chamber, and wherein said means for automatically moving said film holder to said case includes a rotative sweep arm in each of said bath chambers whereby said arm is movable for bringing said film holder to an alignment position with said window therein and said means for automatically moving said film holder through said case includes power-driven shaft-andgear means.

27. Apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein said power-driven shaft-and-gear means include a pair of parallel shafts disposed transversely to said bath chambers, and co-acting interengageable drive members mounted on said respective shafts, and wherein one of said rotative sweep arms is mounted on each of said shafts so as to haae only one sweep arm operatively disposed within a given bath chamber.

28. Apparatus for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination an annular holder for holding a piece of film fitted therein; an enclosed film-developing case having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and a plurality of adjacent bath chambers through which said film holder is rotatively passed, means for automatically rotatively moving said annular film holder therethrough and wherein said annular film holder has a major plane and a film-receiving-and-retaining portion in the form of cirfumferentially disposed internal groove means for holding the film generally in a medial plane thereof,

and which plane is generally coplanar to the major plane of said film holder and wherein said circumferentially disposed groove means includes four generally rectangularly-spaced film'receiving portions along an inner periphery of said holder for holding the film, and each of the film-receiving portions having two filmsupporting pawls spaced apart from each other toward one side thereof, and another one film-retaining pawl complementally positioned between and oppositely adjacent said two spaced pawls and toward the opposite side of said medial plane.

29. Apparatus for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination:

an annular holder for holding a piece of film fitted therein; an enclosed film-developing case having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and a plurality of adjacent bath chambers through which said film holder is rotatively passed, and means for automatically rotatively moving said annular film holder therethrough and wherein said developing case has at least one intermediate partition wall to form the adjacent bath chambers, said partition wall having an open window for transferring said annular film holder to the next bath chamber, each of said bath chambers having in its interior a curved peripheral wall for rolling contact by said annular film holder therewith, said means for automatically rotatively moving said annular film holder therethrough includes at least one pair of drive members for rollingly bringing said film holder to an alignment posi tion with said window, said at least one pair of drive members include a pair of coplanarly disposed reel-like members rotatably mounted on transverse shafts in each of said bath chambers, said reel-like members having flange means including one planar flange member parallel to and spaced apart from said chamber-dividing partition wall so that said annular film holder is partially and freely disposed between said partition and said flange member and pinlike elements transversely disposed on said flange of said rotatable reel-like members so as to engage and rotatably drive said annular film-holder along said interior curved peripheral wall of said bath chamber to a next chamber transferpermitting window.

30. Apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein said means for automatically moving said annular film holder therethrough includes an inclined surface on at least one of said reel-like members and disposed so as to effect lateral shifting movement of said film-holder through said partition open window into the adjacent bath chamber responsive to engagement of said inclined surface by said annular film-holder. 

1. A method for automatically developing particularly small size film, such as dental X-ray film and the like, said method comprising the steps of: a. attaching a single piece of film in a planar condition within a single generally annular, rigid, frame-like film holder having an outer periphery and major and minor planes; said attaching being generally in the medial plane of thickness of said rigid film holder which medial plane is coplanar with and essentially constitutes the major plane of said film holder; and b. moving said annular film holder by rotatively enaging it along at least part of its outer periphery and passing is successively through a plurality of vertical parallel bath chambers in succession by passing said film holder in alternatingly opposite directions for each successive bath chamber for film development utilizing the successive rotative travel imparted to said film holder while maintaining said film holder with its major plane vertically disposed and parallel with partition walls forming said bath chambers; c. said moving and passing including lifting said film holder up adjacent to open transfer window means in said partitions, moving said holder through or across said open transfer window means; and d. allowing said film holder to drop by gravity into the adjacent bath chamber whereby it is again moved as per paragraphs (b) and (c) through the adjacent chambers.
 2. Apparatus for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination an annular rigid, frame-like holder for holding a piece of film fitted therein; said holder having opposed co-planar portions by which an imaginary plane passing essentially through said opposed coplanar portions constitutes a major plane of said holder; said holder having means to hold said film in a planar condition by at least portions of two opposed sides thereof; an enclosed film-developing case having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and wall means forming therein a plurality of generally vertically disposed adjacent bath chambers each having a major plane through which bath chambers said film holder is rotatively passed with the major plane of said film holder co-extensive with a corresponding major plane of each bath chamber; and means for automatically rotatively moving said annular film holder progressively through the bath chambers of said casing with means for passing said film holder from chamber to chamber essentially in a vertical condition wherein said annular film holder has a film-receiving-and-retaining portion in the form of circumferentially disposed internal groove means for holding the film generally in a medial plane thereof, and which medial plane is generally coplanar to the major plane of said film holder and wherein said inner circumferentially disposed groove means includes four generally rectangular-spaced film-receiving portions along an inner periphery of said holder for holding the film, and each of the film-receiving portions having two film-supporting pawls spaced apart from each other toward one side thereof, and another one film-retaining pawl complementally positioned between and oppositely adjacent said two spaced pawls and toward the opposite side of said medial plane.
 3. Apparatus for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination an annular frame-like holder for holding a piece of film fitted in planar condition therein; an enclosed film-developing case having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and a plurality of adjacent bath chambers through which said film holder is rotatively passed, and means for automatically rotatively moving said annular film holder therethrough, said developing case including a vertical partition wall between the adjacent bath chambers, each of said partition walls being formed with an open window for transferring said annular film holder to the next bath chamber, and said means for automatically moving said film holder through said case including a rotative sweep arm in each bath chamber which rotates in a generally circular path in each of said bath chambers and in operative engagement with said film holder to move it into an alignment position with said window therein.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said partition walls are generally uniformly spaced apart in succeeding relation to one another, and wherein said open partition windows of succeeding partitions are succeedingly oppositely offset, and wherein each sweep arm rotates in alternatingly opposite directions in each adjacent chamber so as to move said film holder in alternating directions in each successive chamber to an alignment position with the respective succeedingly oppositely offset windows for each successive partition wall.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein each sweep arm has a portion with a slanting surface so as to effect lateral shifting movement of said film-holder through said partition open window into the adjacent bath chamber responsive to enagagement of said slanting surface by said annular film-holder.
 6. A method for automatically developing particularly small size film, such as dental X-ray film and the like, said method comprising the steps of: a. attaching a single piece of film in a planar condition within a single generally annular, rigid, frame-like film holder having an outer periphery and major and minor planes; said attaching being generally in the medial plane of thickness of said rigid film holder which medial plane is coplanar with and essentially constitutes the major plane of said film holder; and b. moving said annular film holder by rotatively engaging it along at least part of its outer periphery and passing it successively through a plurality of vertical parallel bath chambers in succession by movement including rotatively traversing said film holder through an arcuate travel path between approximately 180*-270* in each succeeding bath chamber for film development utilizing the successive rotative travel imparted to said film holder while maintaining said film holder with its major plane vertically disposed and parallel with partition walls forming said bath chambers; c. said moving and passing including lifting said film holder up adjacent to open transfer window means in said partitions, moving said holder through or across said open transfer window means; and d. allowing said film holder to drop by gravity into the adjacent bath chamber whereby it is again moved as per paragraphs (b) and (c) through the adjacent chambers.
 7. The method as defined in claim 6, wherein said film holder is moved in alternatingly opposite directions for each successive chamber.
 8. A method for automatically developing particularly small size film, such as dental X-ray film and the like, said method comprising the steps of: a. attaching a single piece of film in a planar condition within a single generally annular, rigid, frame-like film holder having an outer periphery and major and minor planes; said attaching being generally in the medial plane of thickness of said rigid film holder which medial plane is coplanar with and essentially constitutes the major plane of said film holder; and b. moving said annular film holder by rotatively engaging it along at least part of its outer periphery and passing it successively through a plurality of vertical parallel bath chambers in succession for film development utilizing the successive rotatiVe travel imparted to said film holder while maintaining said film holder with its major plane vertically disposed, and parallel with partition walls forming said bath chambers wherein said film holder is spirally driven through 360* spirally communicating bath chambers, and different developing and processing liquid solutions are maintained in some of the respective chambers so as not to become mixed with one another during the process; c. said moving and passing including lifting said film holder up adjacent to open transfer window means in said partitions, moving said holder through or across said open transfer window means; and d. allowing said film holder to drop by gravity into the adjacent bath chamber whereby it is again moved as per paragraphs (b) and (c) through the adjacent chambers.
 9. Apparatus for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination an annular rigid, frame-like holder for holding a piece of film fitted therein; said holder having opposed coplanar portions by which an imaginary plane passing essentially through said opposed coplanar portions constitutes a major plane of said holder; said holder having means to hold said film in a planar condition by at least portions of two opposed sides thereof; an enclosed film-developing case having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and wall means forming therein a plurality of generally vertically disposed adjacent bath chambers each having a major plane through which bath chambers said film holder is rotatively passed with the major plane of said film holder coextensive with a corresponding major plane of each bath chamber, means for automatically rotatively moving said annular film holder progressively through the bath chambers of said casing with means for passing said film holder from chamber to chamber essentially in a vertical condition and wherein said developing case wall means includes a vertical partition wall between the adjacent bath chambers, each of said partition walls being formed with an open window through which said annular film holder is transferred to the next bath chamber, and wherein said means for automatically moving said film holder through said case includes a rotative sweep arm in each of said bath chambers whereby said arm is movable for bringing said film holder to an alignment position with said window therein.
 10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said open partition windows each include an arcuate portion to complementally accommodate and pass said annular shaped film holder.
 11. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said means for automatically moving said film holder through said case includes power-driven shaft-and-gear means.
 12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said power-driven shaft-and-gear means include a pair of parallel shafts disposed transversely to said bath chambers, and coacting interengageable drive members mounted on said respective shafts, and wherein one of said rotative sweep arms is mounted on each of said shafts so as to have only one sweep arm operatively disposed within a given bath chamber.
 13. Apparatus for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination an annular rigid, frame-like holder for holding a piece of film fitted therein; said holder having opposed coplanar portions by which an imaginary plane passing essentially through said opposed co-planar portions comstitutes a major plane of said holder; said holder having means to hold said film in a planar condition by at least portions of two opposed sides thereof; an enclosed film-developing case having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and wall means forming therein a plurality of generally vertically disposed adjacent bath chambers each having a major plane through bath chambers said film holder is rotatively passed with the major plane of said film holder coextensive with a corresponding major plane of each bath chamber, means for automatically rotatively mOving said annular film holder progressively through the bath chambers of said casing with means for passing said film holder from chamber to chamber essentially in a vertical condition and wherein said developing case has at least one intermediate partition wall to form the adjacent bath chambers, said partition wall having an open window through which said annular film holder is transferred to the next bath chamber, each of said bath chambers having in its interior a curved peripheral wall for rolling contact by said annular film holder therewith; and said means for automatically rotatively moving said annular film holder therethrough includes at least one pair of drive members for rollingly bringing said film holder to an alignment position with said window.
 14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said at least one pair of drive members include a pair of co-planarly disposed reel-like members rotatably mounted on transverse shafts in each of said bath chambers, said reel-like members having flange means including one planar flange member parallel to and spaced apart from said chamber-dividing partition wall so that said annular film holder is partially and freely disposed between said partition and said flange member, and pin-like elements transversely disposed on said flange of said rotatable reel-like members so as to engage and rotatably drive said annular film-holder along said interior curved peripheral wall of said bath chamber to a next chamber transfer-permitting window.
 15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said means for automatically moving said annular film holder therethrough includes an inclined surface on at least one of said reel-like members and disposed so as to effect lateral shifting movement of said film-holder through said partition open window into the adjacent bath chamber responsive to enagement of said inclined surface by said annular film-holder.
 16. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein a guide with slanting face thereon is immovably provided adjacent said partition open window so as to effect lateral shifting movement of said film holder through said partition open window into the adjacent bath chamber responsive to engagement of said slanting surface by said annular film holder.
 17. Apparatus for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination an annular rigid, frame-like holder for holding apiece of film fitted therein; said holder having opposed co-planar portions by which an imaginary plane passing essentially through said opposed coplanar portions constitutes a major plane of said holder; said holder having means to hold said film in a planar condition by at least portions of two opposed sides thereof; an enclosed film-developing case having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and wall means forming therein a plurality of generally vertically disposed adjacent bath chambers each having a major plane through which bath chambers said film holder is rotatively passed with the major plane of said film holder coextensive with a corresponding major plane of each bath chamber, means for automatically rotatively moving said annular film holder progressively through the bath chambers of said casing with means for passing said film holder from chamber to chamber essentially in a vertical condition and wherein the adjacent bath chambers of the developing case are defined by helically continuous partition wall means between said inlet and outlet casing ends; said bath chambers being communicatively spirally connected and having in their interior a concavely curved peripheral wall for contact by a peripheral portion of said annular film holder, and a drive member transverse to said spiral chambers which drive member rollingly transfers said film holder from one chamber to another along their respective peripheral walls in cooperation with said casing.
 18. Apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said drive member is disposed axially through said bath chambers and includes a cyLindrical surface common to all chambers, said cylindrical surface disposed relative to said concavely curved peripheral walls of said bath chambers so that said annular film holder has its outer periphery drivingly engageable with both the said cylindrical surface of said drive member and with said curved peripheral wall of said chambers throughout its travel through said developing case.
 19. Apparatus for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination: a rigid, annular frame-like holder with means for holding a piece of film in planar condition therein, said frame-like holder having opposed coplanar portions by which an imaginary plane passing through said opposed coplanar portions constitutes a major plane of said film holder; said film being held generally in a medial plane thereof which is coplanar to the major plane thereof; an enclosed film-developing case having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and vertically disposed plural partition walls interposed in spaced apart parallel relation between said opposite ends of said casing and defining therewith a plurality of relatively narrow adjacent bath chambers each having a major plane in an upright position, and through which chambers said film holder is rotatively passed; said parallel partition walls being spaced apart a distance slightly greater than an overall thickness of said annular film holder and constituting means for keeping the major plane of said film holder in generally parallel relation with said partition walls while being passed within each of said bath chambers, means operatively engageable with said film holder to rotatively move it progressively and automatically through said casing chambers, said latter means including a member of which at least part thereof follows a generally circular path and wherein each of said partition walls is formed with an open window of a size greater than the film holder and through which said film holder is transferred to the next bath chamber and succeeding partition walls have their respective open windows alternatingly oppositely offset from one another.
 20. Apparatus for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination: a rigid, annular frame-like holder with means for holding a piece of film in planar condition therein, said frame-like holder having opposed coplanar portions by which an imaginary plane passing through said opposed coplanar portions constitutes a major plane of said film holder; said film being held generally in a medial plane thereof which is coplanar to the major plane thereof; an enclosed film-developing case having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and vertically disposed plural partition walls interposed in spaced apart parallel relation between said opposite ends of said casing and defining therewith a plurality of relatively narrow adjacent bath chambers each having a major plane in an upright position, and through which chambers said film holder is rotatively passed; said parallel partition walls being spaced apart a distance slightly greater than an overall thickness of said annular film holder and constituting means for keeping the major plane of said film holder in generally parallel relation with said partition walls while being passed within each of said bath chambers, means operatively engageable with said film holder to rotatively move it progressively and automatically through said casing chambers, said latter means including a member of which at least part thereof follows a generally circular path and wherein each of said partition walls is formed with an open window of a size greater than the film holder and through which said film holder is transferred to the next bath chamber and said casing and windowed partitions are relatively disposed so that said film holder simply drops under an influence of gravity without necessarily always beinng in contact with said means for moving said film holder through said casing; and further means engagEable with and for moving said film holder essentially only upwardly from a bottom of each of said bath chambers.
 21. Apparatus for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination: a rigid, annular frame-like holder with means for holding a piece of film in planar condition therein, said frame-like holder having opposed coplanar portions by which an imaginary plane passing through said opposed coplanar portions constitutes a major plane of said film holder; said film being held generally in a medial plane thereof which is coplanar to the major plane thereof; an enclosed film-developing case having an inlet and outlet at opposite, ends and vertically disposed plural partition walls interposed in spaced apart parallel relation between said opposite ends of said csaing and defining therewith a plurality of relatively narrow adjacent bath chambers each having a major plane in an upright position, and through which chambers said film holder is rotatively passed; said parallel partition walls being spaced apart a distance slightly greater than an overall thickness of said annular film holder and constituting means for keeping the major plane of said film holder in generally parallel relation with said partition walls while being passed within each of said bath chambers, means operatively engageable with said film holder to rotatively move it progressively and automatically through said casing chambers, said latter means including a member of which at least part thereof follows a generally circular path and wherein each of said partition walls is formed with an open window of a size greater than the film holder and through which said film holder is transferred to the next bath chamber and said means for automatically moving said film holder through said case includes a rotative sweep member in each of said bath chambers; and each of said sweep members formed with a slanting surface portion to effect lateral shifting movement of said film holder through said open window into the next adjacent bath chamber responsive to engagement of said slanting surface by said annular film holder.
 22. Apparatus for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination: a rigid, annular frame-like holder with means for holding a piece of film in planar condition therein, said frame-like holder having opposed coplanar portions by which an imaginary plane passing through said opposed coplanar portions constitutes a major plane of said film holder; said film being held generally in a medial plane thereof which is coplanar to the major plane thereof; an enclosed film-developing case having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and vertically disposed plural partition walls interposed in spaced apart parallel relation between said opposite ends of said csaing and defining therewith a plurality of relatively narrow adjacent bath chambers each having a major plane in an upright position, and through which chambers said film holder is rotatively passed; said parallel partition walls being spaced apart a distance slightly greater than an overall thickness of said annular film holder and constituting means for keeping the major plane of said film holder in generally parallel relation with said partition walls while being passed within each of said bath chambers, means operatively engageable with said film holder to rotatively move it progressively and automatically through said casing chambers, said latter means including a member of which at least part thereof follows a generally circular path and wherein each of said partition walls is formed with an open window of a size greater than the film holder and through which said film holder is transferred to the next bath chamber and a guide with slanting face thereon is immovably provided at the edge of said open window so as to be engageable by and effect lateral shifting movement of said film holder through said open window into the adjacent bath chamber.
 23. ApparatUs for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination: an annular holder for holding a piece of film fitted therein; an enclosed film-developing case having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and a plurality of adjacent bath chambers through which said film holder is rotatively passed, and means for automatically rotatively moving said annular film holder therethrough and wherein said developing case includes a partition wall between the adjacent bath chambers, each of said partition walls being formed with an open window for transferring said annular film holder to the next bath chamber, and wherein said means for automatically moving said film holder to said case includes a rotative sweep arm in each of said bath chambers whereby said arm is movable for bringing said film holder to an alignment position with said window therein and said open partition windows each include an arcuate portion to complementally accommodate and pass said annular shaped film holder.
 24. Apparatus for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination: an annular holder for holding a piece of film fitted therein; an enclosed film-developing case having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and a plurality of adjacent bath chambers through which said film holder is rotatively passed, and means for automatically rotatively moving said annular film holder therethrough and wherein the adjacent bath chambers of the developing case are defined by helically continuous partition wall means between said inelt and outlet casing ends; said bath chambers being communicatively spirally connected and having in their interior a curved peripheral wall for contact with said annular film holder, and a drive member transverse to said spiral chambers which drive member rollingly transfers said film holder from one chamber to another along their respective peripheral walls in cooperation with said casing.
 25. Apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein said drive member is disposed axially through said bath chambers and includes a cylindrical surface common to all chambers, said cylindrical surface disposed relative to said curved peripheral walls of said bath chambers so that said annular film holder has its outer periphery drivingly engageable with both the said cylindrical surface of aid drive member and with said curved peripheral wall of said chambers throughout its travel through said developing case.
 26. Apparatus for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination: an annular holder for holding a piece of film fitted therein; an enclosed film-developing case having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and a plurality of adjacent bath chambers through which said film holder is rotatively passed, and means for automatically rotatively moving said annular film holder therethrough and wherein said developing case includes a partition wall between the adjacent bath chambers, each of said partition walls being formed with an open window for transferring said annular film holder to the next bath chamber, and wherein said means for automatically moving said film holder to said case includes a rotative sweep arm in each of said bath chambers whereby said arm is movable for bringing said film holder to an alignment position with said window therein and said means for automatically moving said film holder through said case includes power-driven shaft-and-gear means.
 27. Apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein said power-driven shaft-and-gear means include a pair of parallel shafts disposed transversely to said bath chambers, and co-acting interengageable drive members mounted on said respective shafts, and wherein one of said rotative sweep arms is mounted on each of said shafts so as to haae only one sweep arm operatively disposed within a given bath chamber.
 28. Apparatus for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination an aNnular holder for holding a piece of film fitted therein; an enclosed film-developing case having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and a plurality of adjacent bath chambers through which said film holder is rotatively passed, means for automatically rotatively moving said annular film holder therethrough and wherein said annular film holder has a major plane and a film-receiving-and-retaining portion in the form of cirfumferentially disposed internal groove means for holding the film generally in a medial plane thereof, and which plane is generally coplanar to the major plane of said film holder and wherein said circumferentially disposed groove means includes four generally rectangularly-spaced film-receiving portions along an inner periphery of said holder for holding the film, and each of the film-receiving portions having two film-supporting pawls spaced apart from each other toward one side thereof, and another one film-retaining pawl complementally positioned between and oppositely adjacent said two spaced pawls and toward the opposite side of said medial plane.
 29. Apparatus for automatically developing preferably relatively small size film comprising in combination: an annular holder for holding a piece of film fitted therein; an enclosed film-developing case having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends and a plurality of adjacent bath chambers through which said film holder is rotatively passed, and means for automatically rotatively moving said annular film holder therethrough and wherein said developing case has at least one intermediate partition wall to form the adjacent bath chambers, said partition wall having an open window for transferring said annular film holder to the next bath chamber, each of said bath chambers having in its interior a curved peripheral wall for rolling contact by said annular film holder therewith, said means for automatically rotatively moving said annular film holder therethrough includes at least one pair of drive members for rollingly bringing said film holder to an alignment position with said window, said at least one pair of drive members include a pair of coplanarly disposed reel-like members rotatably mounted on transverse shafts in each of said bath chambers, said reel-like members having flange means including one planar flange member parallel to and spaced apart from said chamber-dividing partition wall so that said annular film holder is partially and freely disposed between said partition and said flange member and pinlike elements transversely disposed on said flange of said rotatable reel-like members so as to engage and rotatably drive said annular film-holder along said interior curved peripheral wall of said bath chamber to a next chamber transfer-permitting window.
 30. Apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein said means for automatically moving said annular film holder therethrough includes an inclined surface on at least one of said reel-like members and disposed so as to effect lateral shifting movement of said film-holder through said partition open window into the adjacent bath chamber responsive to engagement of said inclined surface by said annular film-holder. 